Portugal Agrees to Promote Belt and Road as EU Moves to Raise Scrutiny

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa held a grand welcome ceremony for President Xi Jinping. Photo: Xinhua

Portugal edged closer to joining the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s ambitious plan to develop global infrastructure, although it stopped short of a full endorsement as the European Union moved to increase scrutiny of Chinese investment.

China’s President Xi Jinping signed (link in Portuguese) 17 memorandums of understanding with his Portuguese counterpart President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, during a state visit on Tuesday.